At least one Palestinian hurt by live fire during clashes in village of Kusra, hospitalized in serious condition. Palestinians say settlers fired live rounds; IDF denies soldiers used weapons

Ynet reporters|Last update: 23.02.13 , 21:23

Tough clashes broke out Saturday between dozens of settlers and Palestinians in the village of Kusra
south of Nablus.

Three Palestinians were hurt including one who sustained serious injuries to his abdomen, apparently as a result of the use of live ammo. Another sustained moderate wounds, also by live fire according to Palestinians.

The victims were rushed to a Nablus hospital. The Palestinians are claiming the settlers used live rounds. The IDF
said that no soldier had used live ammo. In addition, a Palestinian teen was hit by a rubber bullet in his eye.

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Settlers said 10 had been lightly wounded. There were no injuries among the security forces.

Ynet has obtained x-rays from the Rafidia Hospital in Nablus which prove that one of the victims was hurt by live fire. Doctors retrieved bullet parts from his body and the x-rays show that the bullet was lodged near the victim's spine.

Hospital director Dr. Osama Malhis, said that the bullet had entered the victim's body through his stomach and hit his liver. He said that it was a hollow-point type bullet.

Nevertheless he stated that the bullet found in the body of the other Palestinian was not a live bullet of the same sort as found in the other victim's body.

The clashes began on Saturday afternoon and involved some 25 settlers and 150 residents of Kusra. IDF forces called to the scene dispersed the settlers and used various crowd dispersal means including shock grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets.

Victims rushed to hospital (Photo: AFP)

There are contradictory reports regarding the chain of events. The Palestinians are claiming that settlers from the Shilo and Esh Kodesh
outposts attacked Kusra residents and caused damage. They responded by hurling stones.

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According to Tazpit, the settlers came to defend the land and the sides soon began to hurl stones at each other.

Some 10 settlers were hit by stones and treated at the scene, Tazpit said.

Teen hurt in clashes (Photo: AFP)

Meanwhile, dozens are Arabs took part in a protest in Nazareth in solidarity with Palestinian hunger striking prisoners. The protest was organized by the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee. The protesters waved Palestinian flags and called for the prisoners' release.

Among the protesters were Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement's northern Branch, Nazareth Mayor Ramiz Jaraisy, Monitoring Committee Chairman Muhammed Zidan as well as Arab Knesset members. "We shall support the prisoners until they are released," Sheikh Salah said.

Red Crescent called to treat victims (Photo: EPA)

The clashes follow a tense weekend in the West Bank. On Friday, Israeli
officers forces stormed through the Mughrabi Gate after dozens of Palestinians began hurling stones at security forces. No injuries were reported; one rioter was arrested. An officer was lightly wounded by stones elsewhere in Jerusalem.

Photo: AP

On Thursday, security forces and Palestinians clashed in the Bituniyeh checkpoint, east Jerusalem, Hebron, Jenin and Tulkarem.

Palestinians protested in solidarity with hunger striking security prisoners. Several protesters and two Israeli journalists were injured.

Earlier this week, six cars were torched in the village of Kusra. Locals blamed settlers from Esh Kodesh for the arson, but the outpost's secretary denied the charges.